Spark-plttg intensifies



A. A. IACKSON.

SPARK PLUG INTENSIFIER.

APPLICATION msn sEPT.1.|919.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

ALFRED A. JACKSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SPARK-PLUG IN TEN SIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Application led September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,586.

To all whom t may concern.

y Be it known that I, ALFRED A. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and tate of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark- Plug In- 'tensiiers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in intensifiers for spark plugs, my object being to provide a construction of this class which shall be exceedingly simple, economical and efficient. Y

This intensifier' belongs to the class in which the electric current where it enters the spark plug is obliged to bridge a gap, whercby the spark at the opposite extremity of the plug and within the cylinder is intensified.

The novel feature of my construction consists in providing a device with a series of points or electrodes whereby, when one of these points or projections becomes fouled or worn, it is only necessary to impart a partial rotary movement to the device in order to bring another projection or electrode into position. Specifically, I mount a starshaped piece of material, as copper, upon Va holder lcomposed ofinlsulating material, and also carrying a metal washer, the latter being directly connected with the spark plugwhen the device is in use. The star-shaped member may be held in place by meansof a screw or small bolt,'whereby it may be held perfectly tight until adjustment is required, in which event the said device may be loosened suiiiciently to permit rotary movement for the purpose of bringing one of the projections into proper cooperative relation with the washer, which is spaced from the pointl or electrode.

Having briefly outlined my improvement,

` If will proceed to describe thesame in detail,

reference being made to the accompanying drawing, 1n which isillustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the outer extremity of an engine cylinder equipped with a spark plug to which my improved ins tensiier is applied.v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the intensifier shown in detail.`

F ig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

F ig. i is a section similar to that of F ig. 3, .howing the parts in operative relation as in The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a spark plug of ordinary construction whose inner extremity is provided as usual with two electrodes which are spaced suiiiciently to produce the required gap for sparking purposes. To the outer extremity of this plug is secured my improved intensifier, which may be designated in its entirety by the numeral 6, the same consisting of a plate or flat piece 7 of insulating material lon one extremity of which is secured a metallic, preferably copper, washer 8. This washer is preferably securely riveted in place to the insulating member or base, the latter however being relatively thin. The washer is centrally perforated, as shown at 9, to register with the perforation 10 in the insulating member. When the device is applied to the spark plug, the outer extremity of the stem 12 of the plug is passed through the registering perforations 9 and 10 and the device is then secured in place by screwing a nut 13 thereon.

Also mounted on the insulating member 7 is a star-shaped metal device, 14, which is perforated as shown at l5, to register with a perforation formed in the base 7. This device is riveted to the base -7 and is connected with the metal terminal 16 of the electric conductor 17 by means of a fastening screw 18, which is passed through` a perforation formed in the terminal and registering with openings formed in the device 14 on the insulating base r-7 This screw is preferably provided -with a threaded shank to which a nut isapplied for securely holding the several parts 7, 14 and 16 in coperative relation.

The star-shaped part 14 is so positioned that when properly adjusted one of its pro- `jections 19 is bridged from the edge of the washer 8 by a space or gap 20, which is similar to the gap between the electrodes at the opposite extremities of the plug.

When the circuit is closed through the plug, the current jumps the gap 20, with the result that the spark produced at the opposite extremity of the electrode and within the cylinder is intensiiied, thus insuring the ignition of the explosive charge. lt is preferred that the insulating base 7 shall be perforated as sliqoWn at 2l, Where the gap 20 is located, thus absolutely insuring at all times an air gap and preventing the accumulation of anything upon the base, Which might interfere with the gap.

It Will be understood that whenever one of the points, projections or electrodes of the star-shaped device shall become so worn as to be useless or corroded or fouled so that it is no longer usuable, it Will only be necessary to loosen the nut upon tlte screiv 1S in which event the star-shaped device may be rotated upon the base 7 suiiiciently to bring another point, projection or electrode 19 into cooperative relation ivith the Washer 8. ln this Way one of my improved devices will last a long time, thus correspondingly enhancing the etliciency oit the device for the purpose stated.

y I claim:

l. A spark plug intensifier, comprising an insulating member, an electrode movably mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of pointedelements which may be successively brought into operation With the spark plug 2. A device of the class described, coinprising an insulating member, an electrode movably mounted thereon and equipped With a plurality of pointed elements, a metal Washer also mounted on the insulating member and spaced by a suitable gap from the electrode, the Washer and the insulating member being perforated to receive the stem of the spark plug for securing purposes.

3. A sparkv plug intensifier, comprising a iiat insulating member, an electrode rotatably adjustable thereon and having a plurality of pointed projections, and a metal Washer electrode also mounted on the said member lso that there is a gap between it and any projection of the pointed electrode When the latter is properly adjusted, the insulating member and the Washer electrode each having a perforation to receive a spark plug stein.

a. A device of the class described, comprising an insulating member, a star-shaped electrode rotatably adjustable thereon, the electrode and the said member being perforated to receive a fastening device, a cooperating terminal also mounted on the said member, the terminal and member being perforated to receive the stem of the spark plug, the insulating member also having a per- Vfora-tion adjacent. the gap betiveeirthe elec trode and the terminal.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my sionature. ALFRED a. Jacisou. 

